An alleged Chinese spy balloon was located hovering over the United States, prompting State Secretary Antony Blinken to cancel his scheduled trip to China aimed to discuss U.S.-China relations.

The Chinese spy balloon was located earlier over Montana, which is a base to one of America's home nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base Defense, according to officials.

Blinken's trip cancellation came despite China's claim that the balloon was just a weather research "airship" that was blown off course, which the Pentagon has rejected, according to Associated Press News.

Pentagon also rejected China's contention that the balloon was not being used for surveillance and had only limited navigational ability.

Blinken told senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in a phone call that deploying the spy balloon over the U.S. was "an irresponsible act."

He added that China's decision to do it before his China trip is "detrimental to the substantive discussions" they were preparing to take.

The Chinese spy balloon was moving southeastward over the heartland of the central United States during the day.

It was also expected to remain in U.S. airspace for several days.

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Antony Blinken's China Visit

Antony Blinken said at a press conference on Friday that the surveillance balloon flying over the U.S. made the conditions weaken the purpose of the trip.

People familiar with the matter noted that Blinken, U.S. President Joe Biden, and other top security officials had high-level conversations before deciding to postpone the trip.

Officials said that it was possible that Biden and Xi Jinping could speak again at some point in the next several months.

Officials also believed that the timing of the balloon could throw off Blinken's agenda in his China visit.

Blinken said at the press conference that he would visit Beijing "when conditions allow."

However, the State Department secretary did not further explain what conditions the U.S. is watching for.

Chinese Spy Balloon

China referred to the spy balloon as a civilian device and is used for "scientific research such as meteorology."

However, a senior defense official said that it was, in fact, a Chinese surveillance balloon," which is the size of two to three school buses, according to CBS News.

The surveillance balloon was no longer hovering over Montana but had moved over the Midwest. It is currently hovering over the country's middle part areas, according to U.S. officials.

Officials added that the balloon was flying at an altitude of about 66,000 feet and can be maneuvered, but subjected to the jet stream.

The spokesperson said China would "continue to maintain communication with the U.S" to properly handle the situation.

Pentagon spokesman Brigadier Gen. Patrick Ryder said the balloon is "currently traveling at an altitude," which is well above commercial air traffic.

The White House said on Friday that it is "keeping all options on the table" regarding the response to the Chinese spy balloon.

Biden, however, followed "strong" recommendations from defense officials not to shoot down the aircraft due to the risk to civilians.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Blinken postpones trip to China as suspected spy balloon flies over U.S. - from CBS News